Ferrero reaffirms sustainability pledges in CSR report

Italian chocolatier Ferrero has reaffirmed its goals on sustainability in its third corporate social responsibility (CSR) report released last week.

As previously announced, it plans to source 100% certified cocoa by 2020 and plans to make its 140,000 tonne palm oil volume certified by 2015.

The company has also made commitments to use eggs only from barn hens, as opposed to battery cage hens, by 2015.

Ferrero will also embark on a traceability plan for hazelnuts. As one on the world’s largest hazelnut users, it has committed to tracing its hazelnut supply by 2020. It hopes this will improve the quality of the nuts, improve farmer practices and help in in avoiding child labour.

Ferrero posted €7.3bn in sales in 2011, up 9.1% and €856m in profit, down 4.1% compared to the previous year.

The company currently employs around 22,400 people and has 18 production plants. It will add another factory in Mexico and another plant in Turkey by 2013.